New Gild Jewelers

New Gild Jewelers, located in the Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis, MN, is a professional custom jewelry store in a relaxed setting, that features the work of independent artists rather than mass-produced or catalog jewelry. We strive to bring creativity and ingenuity together to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind custom jewelry objects to celebrate the most sacred moments in our clients’ lives. We bring the best technology in jewelry creation and repair along with passion and heart to every project we undertake. For those seeking traditional pieces, we have partnerships with suppliers offering ready-to-wear jewelry and mountings that fulfill the need for classic designs, when custom design isn’t necessary–saving you money. It’s different at New Gild Jewelers, and when you walk in the door, you’ll feel it. We’re that custom jewelry store you’ve been looking for.

Jenifer Bellefleur

Co-owner Jenifer Bellefleur’s aesthetic sensibilities and savvy business sense allow her to balance our clients’ dream ring ideas with their lifestyles, while encouraging passion and imagination in the process.

Jenifer has a serious left brain past, earning her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Minnesota in Criminology and Deviance and her Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Augsburg College. She worked for over twenty years in corporate America, always fooling with art supplies and making beautiful flower arrangements in the background…. it’s no coincidence her last name means “beautiful flower” in French. After a particularly thrilling visit to the Uptown Art Fair over ten years ago, she decided to indulge her right brain and try her hand at creating custom jewelry.

Jen has since nurtured her deep fascination with diamonds, pearls, and other gemstones. Settling for nothing but the best, she became certified in diamonds and pearls at the GIA, which is, “like the Harvard of gems,” she wants you to know. She’s our GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certified expert!

Collaborating with clients to design wedding bands and engagement rings and anything else we can imagine together, Jen loves working closely with clients to get to the heart of what they’ll truly love in a jewelry object…and dreaming up how to bring that to life. In 2015, Jenifer won a $5,000 award from the WJA (Women’s Jewelry Association) to further her diamond education, and in 2016 won the Mikimoto scholarship for pearl education. She was also in the Army, on the bomb squad–for real! She raised her children in Southwest Minneapolis, and lives in Linden Hills near the business she co-founded. She loves to tell you about these things if you ask, and will also share vegan food recipes and her love of taco night.

Kelsey John Lee-Karol

Co-owner Kelsey John Lee-Karol is a Platinum and Goldsmith with an A.A.S. degree in jewelry design, repair, and manufacturing, and certification in gemology from Minneapolis Community and Technical College.

He has gained a breadth of knowledge and experience from working in a wide variety of prominent jewelry industry settings in the Twin Cities metro area for over a decade. From high volume to high value, fine precision to fine art, you may already be wearing a piece he had a hand in!

He is always grateful for the privilege to design and create some of the most significant symbols in the lives of his friends and family, and is truly honored when entrusted by a new friend to create or mend one of their most treasured pieces. Seeking to be the most honest and trustworthy set of hands, Kelsey always takes every possible opportunity to learn new techniques and further hone his skills.

Kelsey has deep roots in Minneapolis and the arts community. He credits his family, elementary art teacher Mr. Wudlick, and Juxtaposition Arts for his path into a career in the arts. Since 2009 Kelsey has also maintained a studio practice in the Casket Arts Building in Northeast Minneapolis where he pushes the boundaries of materials and design. Evident if you know him or have come across his work in a local gallery or at Art-A-Whirl, is his love of the rare, timeless, and the unusual. Be it gemstones, (tourmaline and spinel are his favorites!) jewelry methods, decaf coffee, music, or Minneapolis–just ask; you’ll be fast friends!

Kelsey is so very excited to be starting a business in the Linden Hills Neighborhood of Minneapolis. It has always been a very special place for him as his grandparents Betty Lou and Ivan Lee lived just up 44th Street on Dart Avenue, and he has so many great memories with them in the village. He is deeply grateful for everyone who has been part of his journey thus far and thrilled to be able to make a living through his art, doing what he loves.